The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 249

dictates 0f God. The most rigid code could. not produce holiness. But to love Obrist, t<> learn of him, to walk in him, is to c-nt up sin at the roots. Christ is not onlr, I\ Pattern of obedience, but a Power to his associates, enabling them to become hke him, "fulfilling all righteousness." The husk of the Law being stript off, the kernel is sckn0~ledged t-0 be "just and !=ood." If the Law ventured to prefer a complaint sgs.inst the infirmities and failings of Christians, all objeotion is banished by the assur- anoe of the Master that bis scholars shall grow in p:race and knowledge till they are not only saints in name, but in character and deed. They shall be presented faultless before the throne of judgment.-S. R. A. Ver. 6.-The spiritual and the carnal man. Religion may be judged of from within or without-from the character it forms or the actions to which it gives rise. Only the latter can properly come under the survey of our fellows, whilst we may discern the inward effects. Besides oun;ekes, only God can determine our inner condition. The Searcher of hearts can unlock the private door of the heart. It is well for us, with- out self-flattery or self-<lepreciati0n, to anticipate the disclosures of the last day. No wise ma.n wishes to deceive h'mself. I. Two DlillXTRICALLY OPPOSITE DISPOSITIONS. We may be spiritually or carnally minded. The "mind" of the Revised Version suggests too much the rational part of our nature; "mindedness" would perhaps be preferable. We are to think of what the Spirit has a mind.to, and what the flesh. The "minding" is what a. man thinks of, a.ims at, cares for. The spiritually minded man is one in whom the Spirit is supreme. The Holy Spirit has breathed upon the soul, giving a new impulse from God, so that the spirit of man asserts its rightful position, bringing the lower passions under control. Though not without a struggle, the flesh has to yield. He discerm the excellence of spiritual, objects. He recognizes in the Scriptures a message from the Most High. He thinks of God with veneration and affection ; he respects the blessings or salvation and of the life to come. Be deUghts in spiritual, exercises, deeming them not a. round of duties, but of enjoyments. He files to them as a refuge from cares a.nd anxieties. Wbilst he meditates, the dove of peace broods over the turbulent waters, and there is a great calm. Tbe fleshly man is deaf to the charms of spiritual melody, a.nd blind to the glory of the spiritual sunrise. He turns all the events of life to spirit'//,0,l pur- poses. Plants may have the same air and moisture and soil, yet they embody the results according t.o their separate individuality ; as animals from similar food produce hair or wool, or bodies of diverse structure and capability. So two men may witness the same scene or road, the same paragraph; yet how different the emotions I The one loathes wickedness, the other gloats over the garbage. To mind the things of the Spirit is to draw instruction from every event, to tum the mercies of God into praise, and his judgments into matter for humiliation. Temptations make such a man more watchful, afflictions contribute to his advancement, as the flower climbs even by a thorn. We do not deny that worldly minded men occasionally turn their thoughts to the spiritual realm ; but this is accidental, and does not accord with their ordinary behaviour, so as to flow 11ponta.neot1Bly from the inner life. What makes men doubt the contrariety is that dispositions and actions shade into one another, constituting at times a sort of neutral borderland, where it is difficult t.o say which is flesh and which Spirit. Yet do.rkness is not light, nor poverty riches, nor is vice an infinitesimal degree of virtue; there is a. radical distinction. II. 'Jim CEBTAili KISEBT OF THE on: STATE. "The minding of the flesh is death." It ooertur,u all proper order. The lower appetites are ruling; the pyramid is inverted, and a fall is certain. Where the rabble revolt and reign, anarchy leads to dissolution of all prosperity. Jt fight, against Divine Law. "'l'he carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God; " it may prudently regard the Law so as to secure greater indulgence, bnt it does not voluntarily mbmit or embrace the Law gladly. All the la.we of God are for the good of his creatures; they are for, not against, the spirltuo.l life. Men ce.u- not come into confl.ict with the laws of their being without harm and loss. Deat/1 is ,1~ ,,i,{lile effed in all d,epartmen,t,. Vice ruin9 the physical constitution; unjust acts d.i~integrate civil BC1Ciety; the pursuance of evil bluntll the perception of moral good, and dea.,iens the conacience; and even Chri11tians, through sin, may become callous to the 1.,iritual-" having a name to live, and being dead." 'l'h<:sc are the beginnings, quito Ott. vtn.1-39.] THE EPISTLE OP PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 247